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Designed by the architect Costas Kondylis, the building is 861 feet (262 m) high and has 72 constructed floors (but lists 90 stories on elevator panels) with curtain wall facades of dark, bronze-tinted glass.[1][2] The resulting large windows allow for extensive views of the East River and Midtown Manhattan. The building is constructed with concrete to improve its wind resistance.[3]

In 1961, the 18-story United Engineering Center was built on the site. The Center was demolished to make way for the Trump World Tower. In 1997, Trump and his partners, including the Daewoo Corp., a South Korean conglomerate, signed a deal to purchase the site from the United Engineering Trustees for $52 million.[4] Trump also acquired unused air rights from at least seven adjacent low-rise properties,[5] specifically two brownstones, the Catholic Holy Family Church and the Japan Society.[4][6] Demolition began in October 1998.[6]

Prior to construction, many neighbors, including veteran journalist Walter Cronkite, opposed the building due to its height and lack of distinguishing exterior features; among the concerns was that this tower would dwarf the United Nations Headquarters across the street. [7] East Side neighbors who opposed the project raised $400,000 in a bid to defeat it, with investment manager and philanthropist Alberto Vilar contributing $100,000.[8] Opponents argued that the project would block views, was aesthetically unappealing, violated zoning laws, and was out of character with the surrounding neighborhood.[8][9] The Municipal Art Society also challenged the project on grounds of air pollution.[8] Opponents lost their battle in state court.[9]

Trump World Tower was briefly the tallest all-residential tower in the world, prior to the completion of the 21st Century Tower in Dubai (2003) and the Tower Palace 3 in Seoul (2004). The tallest of the handful of wholly residential towers completed to date by Donald Trump, it cost approximately US$300 million to construct. Prices have relaxed to between $625,000 for a studio (there are only a handful in the building) to over $28 million. The penthouse on the top two floors of the structure which totaled 20,000 square feet (1,858 m²) was priced at $58 million; however, after failing to sell for years, it was split into four different units. Rentals are currently between $2800 and $3700 for studio units and over $4600 for one-bedroom units (590–890 square feet).[citation needed]

The building and some of its condominium units have previously been featured on NBC's The Apprentice, which formerly featured Donald Trump. It has also appeared on the NBC syndicated television show Extra Season 13 - Ep. 193.[16] The building also featured heavily in the 2007 film Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.[17]

The main character of Don Delillo's 2003 novel Cosmopolis holds residence in the top three floors of a building that, while unnamed, is described as the tallest residential tower in New York and located at First Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. [18]